Ever wonder what motivates unkind behavior?

[Kathleen Helms]

What is it that motivates some people to be deliberately hateful or unkind to others? Why are some people so full of negativity and nastiness that they have to be mean and rotten to everyone they encounter? What do they gain by this?

Perhaps I'm warped, but I try to treat people the way I want them to treat me. I can't see wasting the energy to hate someone based on superficial nonsense like race or appearance or whatever. It always puzzles me when I encounter someone who feels compelled to "hate" me over some characteristic or "flaw" -- when they don't even know me -- AND they feel compelled to TELL ME about it.

A recent case in point -- I left a post on one of the Ning groups about my spiritual beliefs. This post was seen by two different people who felt compelled to send me email attacking me for what I'd said -- one said that I couldn't *really* be a Christian, because Christians don't believe in "metaphysical bullshit" that God does not approve of ... the other said that because I am a Christian, they did not trust me, nor did they like me and they didn't think I should be a Christian.

To the first person, I asked "Did God tell you that He didn't approve of my beliefs? If not, where do you get off speaking for Him?" They replied saying that God says He doesn't approve of "metaphysical bullshit" in the Bible. Really?! Where?! Naturally, they couldn't cite chapter and verse, but they assured me that they "know it's in there somewhere, in with the part where it talks about witchcraft and black magic."

So, I pointed out 1st Corinthians 12:4-13, and said to me, that pretty much says "metaphysical bullshit" is just another phrase for "spiritual gifts." They haven't replied to that one.

The other person I didn't even bother answering. There's no point -- they've passed judgment and it's not worth arguing with them. Obviously their mind is closed to anything beyond their own beliefs. So be it.

But let's say I'd gone to THEIR page. And I'd seen they were a pagan, and didn't believe in God or Jesus and so on. What if I had sent the letter saying "because you are a pagan, I don't trust you. And I don't like you. And I don't think you should be a pagan anymore." ? What kind of response do you think I would have gotten? What kind of response do you think I would have deserved?

I have no problems with debate and disagreement. To be entirely honest, I even enjoy spirited discussion, particularly when my opponent is well-spoken and thought-provoking. I hold no illusions that I am always right or anything of the sort. And I certainly don't expect to live in a world where everyone agrees on everything and we're surrounded by sunshine and unicorns, but come on. What do people get out of being disrespectful and argumentative? What's the point? Where's the benefit?

I just don't get it.